Open Burning - Land Clearing Operations

The Columbia Fire Department requires operators to complete two permits when open burning involves land clearing operations.

The Missouri Department of Natural Resources requires a permit application be completed and approved by the local authority. DNR will then issue a permit number and advise the local authority of the permit issuance. Click here to download a Missouri DNR permit for open burning. Applicants are encouraged to review Missouri DNR publication 2047, "Facts on Open Burning Under Missouri Regulations." A map showing the location of the burn site must be submitted with the DNR application. The map must be legible and provide enough detail for the permit reviewer to discern site issues.

The DNR Office which oversee's permits is the Northeast Regional Office located in Macon, MO. The fax number for the Northeast Regional Office is 660-385-8090.

After obtaining the Missouri DNR permit, the Columbia Fire Department requires that a local permit be issued before burning may take place. The inspector issuing the permit will provide a copy of the approved permit to the applicant/operator after a site visit has been completed.

The applicant or operator of the permit must call the Fire Marshal's Division each day before beginning burning operations to ensure burn permits are being issued. Please call 573-874-7556 on weekdays between 8 am and 5 PM. On weekends or after 5PM on weekdays, call 573-874-7450.

Pit-burns using an Air Curtain Destructor (ACD) may be issued when wind speeds are above 5 mph and below 15 mph per DNR guidelines.

Depending on the location and amount of materials being burned, above ground open burning may not be permitted. However, a "pit-burn" utilizing an ACD may be allowed. The purpose of a pit-burn using an ACD is to increase the combustion temperature of the materials and thus minimize the amount of smoke and fly-ash from leaving the site. A pit-burn requires very specific parameters to be followed. Applicants and operators are encouraged review Missouri DNR publication,"Guide to Pit-burns and Pit-burn Construction". When inspecting the site to issue the local permit, the inspector will be checking to ensure the pit is constructed properly before a permit is issued. Failure to construct the pit and position the Air Curtain Destructor properly will be grounds for the permit to be denied.

After the required permits have been issued and a site inspection completed, the applicant may begin burning operations following the rules set forth by the permits. Failure to follow the permit rules may result in the burn permit(s) being revoked.

Permit Conditions:

The site must be attended at all times - no exceptions.

If wind speeds, including wind gusts, exceed 20 mph, the burn site is to be shut down.

Do NOT overload the pit. Overloading the pit with materials is the leading cause of fly-ash and smoke leaving the site.

Only non-treated, natural wood products such as tree trunks and branches shall be burned. Do not burn any other materials.